Oximeter Housing With Interchangeable Sensor Covers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oximeter devices lack compartments for securely storing sensors of different dimensions, leading to potential loss and the need for a reconfigurable housing that can accommodate various sensor sizes.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable oximeter housing with interchangeable receptacle covers of different dimensions, featuring a cavity with longitudinal grooves and a protuberance for secure attachment, ensuring that each sensor is firmly retained without accidental removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size storage compartment is provided in the oximeter housing, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot securely store sensors of different dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The storage compartment is segmented into a fixed housing cavity and interchangeable receptacle covers. Each receptacle cover is a separate component that can be attached to or removed from the housing cavity, allowing the same housing to accommodate different sensor sizes through cover replacement rather than redesigning the entire compartment structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing cavity is designed with universal dimensions and attachment features that can accommodate multiple types of receptacle covers. The standardized groove and protuberance interface allows a single housing structure to serve multiple functions by accepting different receptacle covers for various sensor types.
2Reliability
If a removable receptacle cover is used to securely hold sensors, then sensors are firmly retained, but the attachment and removal process requires additional steps
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is extracted into separate, simple components: a protuberance on the receptacle cover and a corresponding groove in the housing cavity. This separation allows for easy attachment by simply aligning and inserting the cover, and easy removal by disengaging these simple geometric features without complex locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex locking mechanism that requires active engagement steps, the design uses a passive interference fit where the protuberance naturally engages with the groove upon insertion. The security comes from the geometric interlocking rather than active fastening, simplifying the operation to basic insert-and-hold actions.
Data Source
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AI summary
An oximeter has a housing configured to have a cavity defining portion that is adapted to be fitted with covers of various dimensions to effect receptacles of different dimensions for accommodating differently sized sensor of sensor assemblies that are matable to the oximeter for sensing physical attributes of a patient. Each of the covers, once fully fitted to the housing, is fixedly latched thereto unless a force that overcomes the latching is applied to remove the cover. The effected receptacle is adapted to biasedly retain a corresponding sensor placed therein. The holstered sensor therefore would not accidentally fall out or be removed from the receptacle, until the user deliberately applies a force to remove the sensor from the receptacle.